Back cleaning device



Dec" 6, W% T. J. KENNEDY 3,28%,215

BACK CLEANING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1965 INVENTOR THOMAS J. KENNEDY Fig- 3 B (A ATTQRNEY United States Patent 3,289,215 BACK CLEANING DEVICE Thomas J. Kennedy, Rte. 2, Box 2806AC, Loomis, Calif. Filed Aug. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 479,866 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-158) This invention relates to an improved cleaning device, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a back cleaning device which includes a disposable cleaning unit particularly adapted to be used in a shower stall for the cleaning of a persons back.

It is considered desirable, when taking a bath or a shower, to clean ones back. This cleaning is ordinarily accomplished by a long handled bristled brush which permits a user to reach behind his back and to scrub his back. It is evident that this requires the user to be not only dextrous but to also be supple in the manipulation of his arm. However, even under the best conditions it is extremely difficult for a verson to properly cleanse his back easily.

In a hotel, motel, inn, institution, and the like it is desirable to provide a means which will permit a guest to easily cleanse his back. Obviously, it would be too expensive to provide each guest with an individual bristled brush. A brush, suitable for such use, would be too costly for adequately performing the function and then being thrown away. Also, it could be diffioult for a guest to accept the idea that he was the first user of the brush.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a guest with an inexpensive means for cleansing his back while staying in a hotel, motel or the like. This means, in addition to being inexpensive, should be readily disposable so as to afford minimum trouble to a housekeeper maintaining the room. Such a means should also provide an immediate assurance to a guest that he is the first user thereof.

The present invention contemplates a back cleaning device having a disposable cleaning unit particularly adapted to be used in a shower stall of a motel, hotel, or the like. The device includes a cleaning means which provides a broad sponge surface that is preferably shaped to conform to the curvature of a persons back and also includes means to suitably mount the cleaning means in a vertical position on the wall of a shower stall. More specifically, the disposable cleaning unit includes a support member preferably composed of a plastic material, such as polystyrene, to which is suitably secured a layer of plastic foam material which is adapted to receive a water and soap solution. The cleaning unit may be secured to the wall of the shower stall by a pair of opposed channel members which removably receive opposing edge portions of the support member. The cleaning unit may be supported by the channel members at a height to provide an optimum height above the floor of the shower stall for a user.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel cleaning device particularly adapted for the cleaning of a persons back.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning device having a disposable cleaning unit.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a back cleaning device particularly adapted for use in the shower stalls of hotels, motels, and the like.

And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device which is particularly adapted for the expeditious cleaning of a users back in a manner which disposes with the necessity of using a brush.

A further object of this invention is to provide a back cleaning device which holds a soap and water solution for the proper cleaning of a users back.

3,289,215 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 A still further object of this invention is to provide a back cleaning device which permits the cleaning at one instant of a large portion of a persons back.

And yet a further object of this invention is to provide a back cleaning device which permits the positioning of the cleansing means at an optimum height for a user thereof.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a back cleaning device which is inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, and simple in design.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a back cleaning device embodying this invention and illustrating a typical environment in which it is to be used.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the disposable cleaning unit of this device.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken along the lines 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 10 generally designates one embodiment of a back cleaning device constructed in accordance with this invention and positioned in the environment in which it is normally used, namely a conventional shower stall 12. The shower stall is provided with a wall 14 on which the back cleaning device 10 is secured and a wall 16 from which a conventional shower head 18 outwardly extends. The shower head 18 and the device 10 are so positioned as to permit a stream of water emitted by head 18, shown in FIGURE 1 by dotted lines, to be directed against the device 10 for a purpose which will be hereinafter set forth more fully. The shower stall 12 is also provided with a floor (not shown).

The back cleaning device 10 includes a disposable cleaning unit 20 particularly adapted to be used in the shower stall for the cleaning of a persons back. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the disposable cleaning unit 20 includes a support member 22 which is provided with an upraised portion 24 and a pair of opposed outwardly extending flange or edge portions 26. Edge portions 26 are provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 28. Apertures 28 are horizontally aligned when unit 20 is vertically disposed. Since the cleaning unit 20 may be disposed of after use, it is preferred that the material from which the suport member is formed is an inexpensive material which will still perform the function for which it is intended. A material which has been successfully used in the practice of this invention is a plastic, such as a polystyrene.

A cleansing member 30 is secured to the outer portion of the upraised portion 24 of the support member 22 in any suitable manner, as by means of a suitable waterproof glue. In the illustrated embodiment, the cleansing member 30 comprises a sponge member formed of a plastic foam such as the common polyester foam. Such a foam or sponge member is inexpensive :and is provided with a plurality of voids or pores for receiving a water and soap solution. The sponge member 30 is preferably formed to a sufficient size as to substantially cover a large portion of a users back. In order that the sponge member comfortably be used by a user of the shower stall 12, the upraised portion 24 of the support member 22 is preferably formed, together with the attached cleaning member 30, to substantially conform to the curvature of the back of a user. This may be accomplished by form ing the upraised portion 22 and the cleansing member 30 in a shallow V-shape as shown most clearly in FIG- URE 3.

ICC

To insure that a user of the cleaning unit is the first user of the disposable unit 20, a thin protective film or ,cover 32 formed of a plastic, such as a vinyl, or paper,

a portion of which is shown in FIGURE 2, is secured to the unit 20 so as to enclose cover the cleansing member 30. The cover 32 may be easily removed from the unit 20 in any suitable manner, such as tearing away, prior to the use thereof and thereby assures the user of the cleaning the device 10 that he is the first user thereof.

If desired, the disposable unit may be equipped with a suitable handle 34, as shown in FIGURE 1, which is attached to the support member 20 for ease in the handling of the disposable unit.

A means is provided for removably positioning the cleaning unit 20 on the shower stall wall 14. This means may take the form of a pair of spaced channel members 36 which are each provided with a slot 38 for removably receiving an edge portion 26 of the support member 22. The lower portion of each member 36 is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder 40 for engaging the support member 20 and thereby ensuring that the member 20 is held between the member channel members 36. Each of the channel members 36 is also provided with an outwardly extending edge or flange portion 42 so that the member 36 may be secured to the wall 14 in any suitable manner such as by screws 44.

The disposable cleaning unit 20 may be vertically positioned within the channel members 36 to permit the sponge member 30 to contact the back of a user at a height most desirable for the user. This is accomplished by passing suitable plugs or bolts 46 through the channel members 36 and a pair of the apertures 28. Accordingly, it will be apparent that the disposable cleaning unit 20 may be vertically positioned within the channel members 36 by a proper selection of a pair of apertures 28.

When it is desired to remove the cleaning unit 20 for disposal it is apparent that the plugs 46 may be removed from the members 36 and the unit 20 lifted from the slots 38 by means of the handle 34.

When a person desires to use the unit 20, the cover 32 is initially stripped from in front of the sponge member 30. A stream of water is directed against the sponge member 30 to moisten it and a bar of soap (not shown) is rubbed across the outer periphery of the sponge member 30 so that a water and soap solution permeates into the pores of the sponge member. It will then be obvious that a user of the shower stall 12 may then easily cleanse his back with only a minimum of effort by rubbing his back against the sponge member 30 and then rinsing it by the stream of water from the shower head 18.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel back cleaning device which is particularly adapted to be used in a shower stall for an expeditious cleansing of a persons back. The novel cleaning device includes a disposable cleaning unit which holds a water and soap solution in a large sponge member at a height within a shower stall at which it may be easily engaged by the back of a user. Also, it is apparent that the device provides instant assurance to a user that he is the first person to use it. Finally, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel back cleaning device which is simple and rugged in construction, which may be economically manufactured, and which has a long service life.

While the above detailed description has shown, de scribed and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A back cleaning device comprising:

a support member having at least two opposed edge portions, each edge portion being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures;

a plastic foam member secured to said support member and particularly adapted to hold a soap and water solution, said support member being formed of a shallow V-shape whereby said secured foam member substantially conforms to the curvature of a users back;

and

at least two channel members secured to the wall of a shower stall for removably receiving said opposed edge portions of said support member, said channel members including means for cooperating with said apertures for positioning said support member at one of a plurality of predetermined distances from the floor of the shower stall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 486,674 11/ 1892 Leets.

819,200 5/1906 Bedford 4184 1,488,076 3/1924 Tebo 4158 2,901,760 9/1959 Nelson 4-160 2,992,435 7/1961 De Rosa et al 4185 3,078,484 2/1963 Briggs 1521 3,085,269 4/1963 Greer 15--21 3,085,276 4/ 1963 Swanson 15-244 DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

